Earthquakes Weekly Update: December 20, 2010

Quakes Face RSL in Home OpenerThe San Jose Earthquakes announced today that they will open the 2011 season at home on Saturday, March 19 against Real Salt Lake at Buck Shaw Stadium at 7:30 p.m. PT. The Quakes play RSL at home to open the season for the second straight year. San Jose looks to improve on their 2010 campaign that saw the Quakes reach the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2005. The Earthquakes finished 2010 with a 13-10-7 record and reached the Eastern Conference Championship after knocking out the first-seeded New York Red Bulls in the opening round of the MLS Cup Playoffs. The Earthquakes began their 2010 slate at home with Real Salt Lake on March 27, falling 3-0.

Holiday Pack OfferThe San Jose Earthquakes announced their 2010 Holiday Pack, which includes four goal view tickets to San Jose's 2011 home opener and two commemorative Chris Wondolowski Golden Boot Tour T-shirts for $75 ($130 value). The Golden Boot Tour T-shirt features the date of each goal scored by Wondolowski in his record-setting 2010 season. To purchase the Earthquakes 2010 Holiday Pack, log on to https://www.sjearthquakes.com/form/holiday-pack. *Note: Orders processed after December 17 should be picked up at the San Jose Earthquakes Front Office if you would like to receive the T-shirts before Christmas. All orders mailed from the Quakes Front Office will be charged a $5 shipping and handling fee. We are located at 451 El Camino Real, Suite 220 in Santa Clara, CA. The Quakes 2011 home opener is tentatively scheduled for the weekend of March 18 and 19.

ScoutingThe Earthquakes December scouting efforts wrapped up this weekend, as assistant coach Ian Russell recently returned from a trip Ghana, where he was able to watch a number of games over three days. Head coach Frank Yallop and assistant coach Mark Watson returned late last week from Japan, where they attended the J-League player combine. General Manager John Doyle attended the College Cup in Santa Barbara as Akron brought home the NCAA Championship with a 1-0 win over Louisville.

MLS Re-Entry DraftBoth stages of the 2010 MLS Re-Entry Draft are now completed. The Earthquakes did not select a player in either stage of the draft.

MLS Combine to Take Place Jan. 8-11The MLS Player Combine will take place in the days leading up to the 2011 MLS SuperDraft, presented by adidas. The league announced that the combine will be held January 8-11 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and the SuperDraft will take place at 9 a.m. PT on January 13. The SuperDraft will take place at the Baltimore Convention Center, in conjunction with the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Convention.

2011 Season Tickets on Sale NowSeason tickets for 2011 are now on sale and fans can log on to sjearthquakes.com or call 408-556-7700 to make a deposit or purchase season tickets. The 20-game season ticket package includes two bonus games and a playoff game ticket. Season ticket packages start as low as $240. All packages offer significant savings off the regular price and season ticket holders will also receive the following benefits: special invitations to private season ticket holder events, ability to purchase season-long parking pass at a discounted rate, a 10-year anniversary MLS Cup Championship patch and scarf, as well as additional perks.